Highway marker



Dec. 2, 1941. e. H. ACKERMAN HIGHWAY MARKER Filed April 15, 1940.

A /7 I I I II II II I I m n? 1. i a

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 HIGHWAY MARKER George H. Ackerman, Webster Groves,Mo., as-

signor to Missouri Rolling Mill Corporation, St. Louis, Mo. acorporation of Missouri Application April 15, 1940, Serial No. 329,766

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to highway markers and, moreparticularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in highway markersof the reflector button type.

My invention has for its primary objects the provision of a highwaymarker of the type stated which is simple and durable in structure,which may be readily and cheaply manufactured, which may be erected orinstalled with facility at the desired location, which mayv selectivelydisplay the catadioptric units or reflector buttons for signalingtraffic in various and different directions, which is uniquelyconstructed to visually display the reflector buttons in such mannerthat the buttons are secured from unauthorized removal, which mayreadily be adapted to meet varying directional requirements resultingfrom angles in the course of the highway or roadway, and which is highlyeflicient in the performance of its stated functions.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention reside in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a reduced perspective view of a highway marker constructedin accordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational View, partly broken away and insection, of the marker with its reflector members or units arranged forso-called opposite directional reflection along a straight highway;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of the marker with itsreflector members or units selectively arranged for two-directionalreflection at a right-angle intersection of the highway;

Figure 4; is a transverse sectional view of the marker, takenapproximately along the line 4-4, Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the marker, takenapproximately along the line 5--5, Figure 3; and

Figure 6 illustrates in transverse section a slightly modified marker ofmy invention with its reflector members or units arranged fortwodirectional reflection at an oblique intersection of the highway.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing,which illustrates practical embodiments of my present invention, thehighway marker includes a main standard or post A having the formpreferably of a metallic bar of conventionalangular section, the bar orpost 55 the reflector buttons B.

A having any desired height and being preferably pointed at an end, asat I, for facilitating ground-engagement.

Adjacent its opposite or upper end, the post A is providedlongitudinally in one of its webs or flanges, as, for instance, web a,with a pair of relatively widely spaced openings 2 and intermediate theopenings or apertures 2 with a plurality of relatively large openings 3,the center-to-center distance between the openings or apertures 3 beingpreferably somewhat greater than twice the diameter thereof.

Snugly disposed and seated in and extending through each of theapertures 3, is the cylindrical shell or housing 4 of a conventionalcatadioptric button B, the light reflector element or lens 5 of which issuitably set in, and presented outwardly from, the shell 4. Formed onthe shell l a short distance from the len 5, is a circumferential rib 6for engaging the one or outer face of the angle-web a. Centrally of itsend wall 4, the shell 4 is provided with an axially extending threadedstud 1 for securement, as by means of a nut 8, to a complementarilyshaped auxiliary or attachment cup 9 sized to flt snugly over the shell4 and, in turn, provided at its peripheral margin with an outwardlyflaring flange or lip [0 for engaging the inner face of the web a inopposition to the rib 6 for holding the button B securely in place, allas best seen in Figure 2.

Co -operable with, and having preferably the same cross-sectional shapeand size as that of, the main standard or post A, is a relatively shortangle-bar section 0, one web of which, as, for instance, web c, beingprovided longitudinally with a pair of correspondingly widely spacedapertures H for respective registration with the apertures 2 of the postweb 0,. Intermediate the apertures l l, the web 0 is provided with aplurality of button-accommodating openings or apertures I2 spaced onefrom the other by the same distance as are the respective buttonapertures 3 of the post web a. The center-to-center distance between theapertures II and the next adjacent button apertures I2 should, however,be such that, when the section C is engaged, as presently appears, withthe post A, the apertures l2 of the section 0 will be fully staggeredwith respect to the apertures 3 of the post A, as best seen i Figures 2and 3.

Conventionally mounted in each of the apertures l2 of the companion orcomplementary section 0, is a catadioptric member or reflector button Bsubstantially identical in all respects with So equipped, the section Cis disposed upon the upper end of the post A with its opposite marginsimpingingly engaging the opposite margins of the post A and with its web0 oppositely disposed to the web a and, in such relation, is rigidly andfirmly secured to and upon the post A as by means of two bolts D in theformation of a closed casing or enclosure, each of the bolts Dpreferably including a central so-called bar-rel or spacerbodyportion l3substantially larger in diametral size than the apertures 2, l l, and atits opposite ends diametrally reduced in the provision of axiallyextending threaded studs 14 substantially smaller in diametral size thanthe apertures 2, I I. In assembled relation, the studs l4 projectrespectively through the registering apertures 2, H, of

the standard or post A and member C, and then,

fitted thereupon are socket-headed so-called theft-proof cap nuts E eachpreferably integrally including an axially extending tubular portion I5having an external diametral size for snug-fitting disposition within arespective aperture 2- or i I, as the case may be, and having an axiallength substantially equal to the thickness of the particular web forholding the post A and section C securely together. So assembled, itwill be noted that the shells 9 are fully housed for effectivelypreventing removal of the buttons B and that, by reason of the relativepositions of the apertures 3, l2, thebuttons B are disposed in staggeredrelation to the buttons B, so that the inwardly projecting portionsthereof will fit noninterferingly into the spaces between the buttons B,all as best seen in Figure 2.

The opposite web 0' of the section C may also i be provided with a pairof longitudinally aligned apertures ll having the same diametral size asthe apertures II and correspondingly spaced for selective registrationwith the apertures 2 of the post A.

The section or member C is normally, as stated, positioned with respectto the post A with the webs c and a in opposite relation, as illustratedin Figures 2 and 4, and the reflector buttons B, B, are thus oppositelypresented in the formation of a marker for a straight section ofroadway. However, the member C may be selectively turned, end-for-endand fastened or secured to and. upon the main standard or post A withthe web 0 in opposed parallel relation to the post web a, when thereflector buttons B, B, will be presented at right-angles to each other,as'best seen in Figures 3 and 5, the marker being then installedespecially for signaling at a right-angle intersection in the highway.

Further, if desired, the marker may selectively include a complementarymember C in the form of a short section of so-called channel iron havinga central web portion 16 and obliquely outwardly presented flanges i1preferably disposed at an angle of 135 to, the web IS, the latter beingapertured in substantially the same manner as the web 0 of the member Cand likewise provided with a plurality of catadioptric buttons B. Themember C may be conventionally secured tothe main standard A by meansof: bolts I8 and socket cap screws l9. By reason of the factthat theflanges I! are disposed at an angle of 135 to the web Hi, the web l6will,

in turn, be disposed at an angle of 45 to the post iii) that the angularrelationship between the web l6 and the flanges H of the member C may bevaried to meet any particular highway angular requirements, if sodesired, although, in actual practice, it has been found that the twocomplementary members C, C, are sumcient to conform to most types ofroad or highway formations.

Preferably, further, one web of the particular complementary member, as,for instance, the web 0' of the member C, is suitably elongated orextended at the opposite ends of the member, as at 20, 20, and bent overin the formation of oppositeend walls for the box-like reflector buttonsecuring and displaying enclosure provided by the walls of the post Aand its companion or complementary member C or C and the like.

The marker may be fully assembled at the manufacturing plant.Preferably, however, the marker is assembled with facility in situfollowing the upstanding embedment of the post A, any accidental injuryto the several reflector buttons during such embedding being totallyobviated. The marker may be inexpensively constructed, is exceedinglydurable, readily meets the requirements of different highway and trafficrequirements, and is exceedingly efficient in the performance of itsintended functions.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thehighway marker may be made and substituted' for those herein shown anddescribed without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular insection, a second member of complementary angular section for engagementat its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflectorbuttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first andsecondmembers, means for securing the first and second membersmarginally together in the formation of a casing with said walls inangular opposition for disposing said buttons fortwo-directional:reflection, and means for supporting the casing adjacentthe highway.

2. A highway marker including, in combination, a. first member angularin section, a second member of complementary angular section forselected. end-for-end disposition with respect to, and engagement at itsside margins with the side margins of, the first member, reflectorbuttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said firstandsecond members, means for securing the first andsecond membersmarginally together in the formation of, a casing with said walls insuch selected angular disposition for disposing said buttons fortwo-directional reflection either for a straight, roadway section or ata right-angle intersection thereof, and means for supporting the casingadjacent the'selected roadway section or intersection.

3. A, highway marker including, in combination, a standard; for uprightdisposition adjacent the highway, said standard comprising a portionangular in section, a complementary member of reduced length relativelyto the standard, andalso; of angular section for engagement at its sidemargins with the side margins of said standard-portion, reflectorbuttons presented outwardly throughrespective walls of saidstandardeportion and said complementary member,

and means for securing the complementary member and the standard-portionmarginally together in the formation of a casing for disposing saidbuttons for two-directional reflection.

4. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular insection, a second member of complementary angular section for engagementat its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflectorbuttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first andsecond members, means for securing the first and second membersmarginally together in the formation of a casing, and means housedwithin the confines of the casing for retaining said buttons inposition.

5. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular insection, a second member of complementary angular section for engagementat its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflectorbuttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first andsecond members, means engaging the inner face of said respective wallsfor retaining said buttons in position, and means for securing the firstand second members marginally together in the formation of a casing forhousing said button-retaining means.

6. A highway marker including, in combination, a main standard of anglesection having two flat webs disposed at right-angles to each other, oneof said webs being provided adjacent an end with a plurality ofoutwardly presented reflector buttons, a complementary member also ofangle section of substantially the same cross-sectional size and shapeas the main standard and having a web provided with a plurality ofspaced reflector buttons in staggered relation to the buttons of thestandard web, and means for securing said member selectively to thestandard with its button-supporting web either parallel or atright-angles to the button-supporting web of the standard.

7. A highway marker including a post of angle section provided in one ofits flanges adjacent the upper end thereof with a plurality of spacedreflector button supporting shells, a section of angle iron forengagement at its side margins with the side margins of the post at andadjacent the upper end thereof, and means for securing said anglesection in marginal impinging relation upon the post and in alignmentalong its upper margin with the upper margin of the post in theformation of a box-like casing for housing said shells, said anglesection being provided in one of its flanges with a plurality ofreflector button supporting shells spaced from each other and from therespective ends of said section in such manner that the latter shellswill respectively fit within said casing intermediate the several shellsof the post.

8. A highway marker including, in combination, a first member angular insection, a second member of complementary angular section for engagementat its side margins with the side margins of the first member, reflectorbuttons presented outwardly through respective walls of said first andsecond members, means for securing the flrst and second membersmarginally together in the formation of a box-like casing with saidwalls in angular opposition for disposing said buttons fortwo-directional reflection, means for supporting the casing adjacentth'e highway, and bendable extensions on the second member for formingend walls for said casing,

9. A highway marker including a post formed of equi-flanged angle ironand provided in one of its flanges adjacent the upper end thereof with aplurality of spaced reflector buttons, at relatively short section ofangle iron having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as thepost and provided in one of its flanges with a plurality of reflectorbuttons spaced from each other and from the ends of said short sectionin such manner that, when said short section is placed in marginalabutting relation to, and in alignment at its upper margin with, theupper margin of the post, said latter reflector buttons willrespectively fit intermediate the several buttons of the post, and meansfor optionally securing said section and the post together in marginalabutting relation with the reflector buttons of said section disposedeither at 180 or at 90 to the buttons of the post.

GEORGE H. ACKERMAN.

